Magazine talking machine



Dec. 29, 1931. R. F. MALLl NA MAGAZINE TALK NG MACHINE Filed June28. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet Summer Gttorncgs.

Dec. 29, 1931. F. MALLINA MAGAZINE TALKING MACHINE 3 Shegts-Sheet 2 Filed June 2 1929 Zmnentor attorneys R. F. MALLINA MAGAZINE TALKING MACHINE Dec. 29, 1931.

Filed June 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zhmentor Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES TION OF DELAWARE PATENT OFFICE RUDOLPH F. MALLINA, OF ATLANTIC CITY, JERSEY, ASSIGNOBI, BY MESNE SIGN'MENTS, TO RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- MLAGAZL'NE TALKING- MACHINE Application flied June 28, 1929, Serial No. 374,460, and in Great Britain July 10, 1928.

this character which are designed to recordor reproduce a plurality of tablets in sequence and. which are commonly called magazine machines.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine of the type characterized with Sim plified mechanism for transferring the record tablets into and out of cooperative relation with the sound recording or reproducing device, which for convenience will hereinafter be referred to as the reproducen' Another object of this invention is to rovide an improved machine of the type 0 aracterized wherein it is unnecessary to provide mechanism for raising and lowering the reproducer with respect to the tablet, the engagement and disengagement of the'reproducer with and-from the tablet being effected by the movement of the tablet.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved machine of the type characterized wherein the engagement and disengagement of the reproducer with and from the tablet is effected as a part of the cycle of operationby which the tablets are moved into and out of their operative position.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which is shown on the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purpose of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had I to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein the same reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in the severa-l figures,

Fig. 1 IS an elevation, partly in axial sec- .tio11, of an embodiment of the present invention, with the various trains of mechanism for performing the several automatic functions of the machine other than the transference of the tablets into and out of operative position omitted for the sake of clearness, and wlth the mechanism for transferring tablets from the magazine suggested diagrammatically, this figure illustrating the position of the parts when the tablet is received from the magazlne;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding view illustrating the position of the parts after the tablet is engaged with the reproducer;

Fig. 3 is a'corresponding view illustrating the position of the parts after the tablet is transferred out of playing position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view to illustrate the several positions of the tablet en aging members;

ig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the magazine proper; 1 v

Fig. 6 .is a plan view of the magazine proper; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale illustrating the mechanism for discharging the tablets one at a time from the magazine.

In the'form shown, a machine embodying the present invention is illustrated as enclosed within a cabinet 10, of any suitable size, construction and material, provided with a base board 11 and a lid 12 hinged to the body'of the cabinet to facilitate access to the interior thereof. Mounted on or suspended from the base board 11, in any suitable way, is a frame 13 carrying any suitable motor mechanism diagrammatically indicated at 14. Projecting upwardly from the motor mechanism 14, through an aperture in the base board 11, isa rotatable spindle 15 which carries a collar 16 and table 17, keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the spindle 15 to rotate therewith.

Mounted on said table 17 in any suitable way, as on lugs 18 depending therefrom, is a plurality of bell crank levers 19 having heads 20 that are preferably provided with cushions 21. The opposite ends of said levers 19 have downwardly extending projections 22 for cooperation with a disk 23 slidably mounted upon the spindle 15. The hub 24 of the disk 23 is shown as provided with a slotfor engagement with a pin on the spindle,-so that said disk and hub will rotate with said spindle but-may slide with respect thereto. Interposed between the table and each lever 19 is a coil spring 25 retained in position in any suitable way and urging the 5 inner end of each lever toward the disk 23.

To slide the disk 23 on the spindle 15 at appropriate times, as hereinafter explained, any suitable mechanism may be provided, that illustrated including a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the base board at 31 and bifurcated at its opposite ends to carry rollers 32 and 33. Mounted on a cam shaft 34 is a suitably shaped cam 35 cooperating with the roller 33. A coil spring 36 1s interposed between said lever 30 and a projection on the frame, and urges said lever in a. direction to engage its roller 33 withthe cam 35 and its roller 32 with the disk 23. The cam 35 moves the lever 30 and thereby the disk 23 to cause the levers 19 to assume three separate positions respectively illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and also on an enlarged scale in Fig. 4. Fig. 1 illustrates the position ofthe levers 19 when a tablet is-received from the magazine, Fig. 2 illustrates the position of the levers when the tablet is engaged with the reproducer, and Fig. 3 illustrates the position of the levers when moved to discharge a tablet onto the table 16.

The mechanism for supportin a pluralit of tablets and transferring t em one at a time to the levers 19 may be of any smtable construction, a. suitable form which such mechanism may take being illustrated more or less schematically in the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the spindle 15 extends upwardly and in alignment with a downwardly extendingspindle 40 mounted on an inverted channel-shaped support 41 retained in any suitable way within the lid 12 of the cabinet. Suitably mounted in said frame at opposite sides of the spindle 40 are a pair of three armed levers 42 and 43, these levers being channel-shaped at their body portlons and respectively having rearwardly extending arms 44 and 45 and 46 and 47. As shown, the lever arms 44 of the levers 42 and 43 at opposite sides of the spindle 40 are interconnected by a link' 48 pivotally attached thereto, and the lever arms 46 are similarly connected by a link 49 so that corresponding levers operate in unison and rotate about their pivots in opposite directions- The lever arms 45 and 47 are respectively connected by links 50 and 51 to a pair of bell crank levers 52 and 53 provided with projections 54 and 55 with which cooperate plungers 56 and 57 extending upwardly within a hollow casing 58 (Fig. 1) and suitably operated from cams, which may also be carried by the cam shaft 34.

- As shown in Fig. 5, thelevers 42 are provided with projections 60 whichnormally .underlie the stack of records centered by the spindle 40, and the levers 43 carry projections 61 having wedge-shaped extremities 62,

. parts are thus restored to their original said projections 61 being normally out of vertical alignment with the stack of tablets and dis osed in such a vertical plane above the pro ections 60 that when the arms 61 are rotated into vertical alignment with the stack of tablets, the wedge-shaped edges 62 of said arms 61 pass between the lowermost and the next to the lowermost tablets in the stack, and said projections 61 thereupon provide a support for the stack of tablets above the lowermost. The rotation of the levers 42 to withdraw the projections 60 from beneath the lowermost tablet permits the lowermost tablet to descend by gravity while the remaining tablets of the stack are supported by the levers 43, and the descending tablet is guided by the'spindle 40 onto the spindle 15. Uponrotation of the levers 42 and 43 in the opposite direction, the projections 60 resume their position in vertical alignment with the stack of tablets and receive the stack upon movement of the projections 61 out of vertical alignment with the stack, whereby the O- sition ready for the next actuation of siiid levers 42 and 43 when the plungers 56 and 57 are elevated to rotate the bell crank lever 52 and 53 in proper timed relation with the movement of the other elements of the trains by which the automatic functions of the machine are performed.

While one form of magazine and device for singly discharging tablets therefrom has been illustrated and described with some detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted to the use of this particular record storing and discharging mechanism, as any suitable device for supporting the tablets and delivering them singiy to the levers 19 may be employed.

The sound reproducer may be of any suitable construction and of either the mechanical or electrical type. A reproducer is diagrammatically indicated atand may be mounted on any suitable type of arm, with or without a gooseneck support, which arm .in turn may be mounted in any suitable way so that the reproducer 70 may traverse the tablet in playing position.

The machine is also provided with any suitable mechanism for moving the reproducer outward from the inner extremity of the tablet to a position outside of the periphery of the tablet, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3, and then when a new tablet has been positioned on the levers 19, inward to starting position, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, and this mechanism may be of any suitable construction-such, for example, as now employed in commercial machines. As this mechanism constitutes no part of the present invention, it has been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

Similarly, the machine is provided with any suitable mechanism for initiating the but as this mechanism constitutes no part of the present invention, it has been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness. Also, the machine may be provided with manual devices for initiating the operation of the automatic mechanism, and with automatic stop mechanism, etc., such for example as now employed in' commercial machines, but for the sake of clearness, this mechanism has not been illustrated.

During sound reproduction the parts are in the relative position shown in Fig. 2 with the heads 20 of the levers 19 in their uppermost and innermost positions'the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. In this position the tablet 75 is held in engagement with the reproducer 70 and is rotated by the spindle 15, and during this period the reproducer 7 0 traverses the tablet in the usual way. At the end of the inward travel of the reproducer the automatic mechanisms are thrown into operation in any suitable way as above explained, and the reproducer 7 O is moved outwardly and beyond the periphery of the tablet to a position as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3.

The rotation of the cam shaft 34 and cam 35 causes the lever 30 to slide the disk 23 axially of the spindle 15, moving the levers 19 into their three positions in proper timed sequence with the movements of the reproducer and the movements of the mechanism for discharging the lowermost tablet from the stack in the magazine The first movement of the disk 23 is upwardly to the position shown 1n Fig. 3, causing the levers 19 to swing outwardly and downwardly so that the heads 20 move out from under the tablet in'playing position. Thereupon the tablet falls onto the table 16. This position of the levers 19 is shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4.

The next movement of the disk 23 is downward, causing the levers- 19, under the action of the springs 25, to move their heads 20 upwardly and inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 and illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4.

This is the position to receive a tablet from the magazine, and the magazine mechanism at this point in the cycle of operation being operated, as in the manner above described,

the lowermost tablet of the stack in the magazine descends and is received on the cushions 21 of the heads 20 which now underlie the periphery of the tablet as it descends on the spindle 15. It is to be noted that at this point of the cycle the reproduceris radially outside of the periphery of the tablet so as not to interfere with the descent of the tablet from the magazine.

The disk 23 is now moved downwardly to its third position, causing the levers 19 to move their heads 20 upwardly and inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 to engage the tablet with the reproducer. This movement should be sufficient to take up any slack in the connection of the reproducer with its arm and assure operative contact between the tablet and the reproducer. The automatic mechanism now ceases to operate and the tablet in operative position is rotated by the spindle 15, the cushions 21 also affording a frictional contact with the tablet to assure rotation thereof, and the cycle heretofore described is repeated.

It will therefore be perceived that a simplified mechanism has been provided for transferring tablets into and out of operative position. By reason of the mechanism provided, it is unnecessary to provide means for raising and lowering the reproducer, which mechanism is always more or less complicated, because the engagement and disengagement of the reproducer with and from the tablet is effected by movement of the tablet rather than of the re roducer. Moreover, the movement of the tablet to engage and disengage the reproducer is obtained as an incident to the mechanism for discharging and receiving a record tablet, so that without the provision of extra mechanical elements, the separate functions of rotating a tablet in operative position, discharging a tablet therefrom and moving 'a tablet into and out of engagement with the reproducer are effected by the same train of elements.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawings has been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as the same is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which will now readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and proportion of parts without departing fromthe spirit of this invention. While the invention has been illustrated in conjunction with a magazine disposed vertically above playing position] and mechanism for lowering the lowermost tablet in the magazine to playing position, which are preferred for simplicity, the invention in its br der aspects is capable of emof the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a magazine talking machine, in combination with a tablet magazine, means for transferring tablets therefrom and a reproducer, a rotatable device including means for receiving a tablet transferred from said magazine, and means for operating said tablet receiving means relatively to said device in one direction to engage the tablet with the reproducer and in the opposite direction to discharge the tablet therefrom by gravity.

In a'magazine talking machine, in combination with a tablet magazine, means for transferring tablets therefrom and a reproducer, a rotatable device including means for receiving a tablet transferred from said magazine and supporting the same below playin position, and means for operating said tablet receiving means in opposite directions relatively to said device to raise the tablet carried thereby into engagement with the reproducer and to permit the tablet to fall therefrom.

3. In a magazine talking machine, in combination with a tablet magazine, means for transferring tablets therefrom and a reproducer, a rotatable device including means for receiving a tablet transferred from said magazine, and means for movin said tablet receiving means relatively to said device into different positions respectively to receive a tablet, engage the tablet with the reproducer, and discharge the tabletby gravity therefrom.

4. In a magazine talking machine, in combination with a tablet magazine, means for transferring tablets therefrom and a reproducer, a rotatable device including means to receive a tablet transferred from said magazine, and means to move said tablet receiving means relatively to said device into a plurality of positions, the movement of said device into one position engaging the tablet with the reproducer and into another position permitting the tablet to fall therefrom.

5. In a magazine talking machine, in combination with a tablet magazine, means for transferring tablets therefrom and a reproducer, a rotatable member, a plurality of elements carried thereby and adapted to receive a tablet transferred from said magazine, and means to move said elements from their record receiving position to engage the tablet with the reproducer.

6. In a magazine talking machine, in combination with a tablet magazine, means for transferring tablets, ducer, a rotatable member, a plurality of elements carried thereby and adapted to receive a tablet transferred from said magazine, and means to move said elements in opposite directions to engage'the tablet with the reproducer and to discharge the tablet therefrom.

I 7. In a magazine talking machine, in comelements carried to move said elements therefrom and a repro transferring tablets therefrom and a reproducer, a rotatable member, a plurality of elements carried thereby, and means for moving said elements into a plurality of positions in which they respectively receive a tablet transferred from the magazine, engage the tablet and discharge the tablet adapted to receive a tablet transferred from said magazine in a plane below playing position, and means to operate said elements to cause the same to raise the tablet into playing position.-

9. In a magazine talking machine, in combination with a tablet magazine, means for transferring tablets therefrom and a reproducer, a rotatable member, a plurality of elements carried thereby and in one position adapted to receive a tablet transferred from said magazine in a plane below playing position, and means for operating said elements in-opposite directions to respectively raise the tablet into playing position and to discharge the tablet therefrom by gravity.

10. In a talking machine, in combination with a reproducer, a rotatable member for receiving discharged tablets, a plurality of by said member and adapted to support a tablet above said member but below playing position, and means to move said elements to engage the tablet carried thereby with said reproducer.

11. In a talking machine, in combination with a reproducer, a rotatable member for receiving discharged tablets, a plurality of elements carried thereby and adapted to support a tablet above said member but below playing position, and means to move said elements in oppositedirections to engage the tablet carried thereby with the reproducer and to permit said tablet to descend onto said member.

12. In a talking machine, in combination with a reproducer, a rotatable member for receiving discharged tablets, a plurality of elements carried by said member, and means into different positions in one of which said elements are adapted to receive a tablet below playing position, in the second of which said elements rotatably engage thetablet with said reproducer, and in the third of which said elements permit said tablet to descend onto said member.

13. In a talkingmachine, in combination with a reproducer, a rotatable member for receiving discharged tablets, elements carried by said member and adapted to support a tablet,- and means to move said elements axially with respect to said mema plurality of bination with-a tablet magazine, means for ber whereby a tablet carried thereby is engaged with said reproducer.

14. In a talking machine, in combination with a reproducer, a rotatable member for receiving discharged tablets, a plurality of elements carried by said member and adapted to support a tablet, and means to move said elements both axially and radially with respect to said member whereby said elements may raise a tablet carried thereby into engagement with said reproducer and move radially apart to permit a tablet carried thereby to descend onto said member.

15. in a talking machine, in combination with a reproducer, a rotatabletable for receiving discharged tablets, a plurality of hell crank levers carried by said table and adapted to support a tablet, a' member movable axially of said table and cooperating with said levers, and means to move said member to cause said levers to raise a tablet carried thereby into engagement with said reproducerQ H 16. In awt alking machine, in combination with a reproducer, a rotatable table for re ceiving discharged tablets, a plurality of hell; crank levers carried by said table and adapted to support 'a tablet, a member movable axilevers, and means to move said member to cause said lovers to engage the tablet carried thereby with said reproducer and to move radially apart to permit the tabletcarried thereby to fall onto said table.

17. In a magazine talking machine, in

combination with a tablet magazine and a re producer, a tablet rotating device, means to transfer a tablet from said magazine to said device, said device comprising a plurality of axially and radially movable members adapted to receive the transferred tablet, and means tomove said elements to engage the tablet carried thereby with said reproducer.

18. In a magazine machine, in combination with a tablet magazine and a reproducer, a tablet rotating device, means to transfer a tablet from said magazine to said device, said device comprising a plurality of axially and radially movable members adapted to receive the transferred tablet, and means to move said elements to engage a tablet carried thereby with said reproducer and radially apart to permit a tablet carried thereby to fall between the same.

19. In a magazine talking machine, in combination with a. tablet'magazine and a re- 1 ing said levers, and means to move said memheir to cause the tablet carried by said levers to rise 1nto engagement with said reproducer.

20. In a magazine talking machine, in combination With a tablet magazine and a reproducer, a rotatable device vertically beneath said magazine, means to discharge the bottom tablet in said magazine onto said device, said device including a plurality of levers adapted to receive the descending tablet,

specification.

RUDOLPH F. MALLINA.

ally of said table and cooperatingjvithsaid 

